This book examines the aging of the US population as a primary domestic public policy issue. An increase in the proportion of the elderly in the total population will potentially result in a significant growth in the number of beneficiaries in major federal entitlement programs, leading to fiscal pressures and challenges for economic growth.

New data on demographic trends and benefits

Economic Perspectives on Aging: An Overview; D.B.Papadimitriou PART I: WELFARE STATE AND THE INCENTIVES TO RETIRE European State Welfare Regimes and their Generosity Towards the Elderly; A.Boersch-Supan Comment; S.Nisticò Global Demographic Trends and Provisioning for the Future; L.R.Wray Comment; R.Startz PART II: ASPECTS OF ECONOMIC WELL-BEING AND GENDER DISPARITIES AMONG THE ELDERLY Net Government Expenditures and the Economic Well-Being of the Elderly in the United States, 1989-2001; H.Kum, E.N.Wolff & A.Zacharias Comment; R.Haveman Differing Prospects for Women and Men: Young Old-Age, Old Old-Age, and Eldercare; L.B.Shaw Comment; R.Antonopoulos PART III: CHANGING PATTERNS OF RETIREMENT BEHAVIOR Working for a Good Retirement; B.A.Butrica, K.E.Smith & E.Steuerle Comment; L.G.Schmidt Net Intergenerational Transfers from an Increase in Social Security Benefits; L.Gan, G.Gong & M.Hurd Comment; D.L.Thornton PART IV: INTERACTION BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROVISIONING The Changing Role of Employer Pensions: Tax Expenditures, Costs and Implications for Middle Class Elderly; T.Ghilarducci Comment; Z.Bodie Retiree Health Benefit Coverage and Retirement; J.Marton & S.A.Woodbury Comment; B.Wolfe PART V: BUDGETARY AND MACROECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF AGING Population Forecasts, Fiscal Policy and Risk; S.Tuljapurkar Comment; C.Burdick Wage Growth and the Measurement of Social Security's Financial Condition; J.Gokhale Comment; S.A.Kelton PAT VI: RETIREMENT SECURITY: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS The Adequacy of Retirement Resources among the Soon-to-Retire, 1983-2001; E.N.Wolff Comment; B.Harrington Minimum Benefits in Social Security; M.Favreault, G.B.T.Mermin & C.E. Steuerle Comment; R.K.Triest